Francis Leavenworth discovered NGC 1230 = LM 2-361, along with NGC 1228 and NGC 1229, in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. Leavenworth made no estimate of size or brightness, only the comment "*??". There is nothing at his position, but 1 min of RA west and 2' N is ESO 480-033 = PGC 11734. Herbert Howe measured an accurate position in 1899-00 using the 20" refractor at Chamberlin Observatory (repeated in the IC 2 notes).

400/500mm - 17.5" (11/10/96): faintest in a group with NGC 1228, NGC 1229 and IC 1892. Only glimpsed momentarily using Vicker's CCD Atlas. Appears extremely faint and small, 10" diameter with possible extensions to 20". Located 3.8' SSE of NGC 1228 and 1.9' SE of NGC 1230. IC 1892 lies 5' further SE.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb